Starker's Bacon and Cheese Curd Burger

Sugared bacon and melting cheese curds or string cheese make a mouthwatering filling for these behemoth burgers. The recipe comes from chef/owner John McClure of Starker's Restaurant at Country Club Plaza in Kansas City.

Jen's White Burger

This sandwich looks a bit plain, but appearances can be deceiving. It's packed with flavor. Mustard, herbs and lemon zest season the meat, which is topped with wine-poached pears, sharp cheddar and pepper jelly. The recipe comes from Jen Smallwood of Portsmouth, Virginia.

Mini Burger Party Platter

To keep in step with the small-meal trend in restaurants, we created this Mini Burger Party Platter with fun sauces to choose from, including Balsamic Mayo, Herbed Goat Cheese and Citrus Ketchup. You could use this platter for an appetizer or a main dish.

Burger Bonanza

Fiesta Filling, Greek Filling or Mediterranean Filling makes these juicy burgers a bonanza of flavors. Form the burgers into patties and make the fillings the night before. The next day, put the two together right before you're ready to grill.

Fire and Spice Beef Burgers

For an upscale twist on a Midwest favorite, add East Indian-influenced spices such as cinnamon and coriander to hamburger. Then instead of the traditional ketchup and mustard, brush the burger with sweet/hot pepper jelly. Serve in pita bread instead of a bun.

Bison-Zucchini Burgers

We created this burger in honor of South Dakota, the largest producer of bison in the nation. Pita bread holds the moist, tender burger, and it's topped with a cabbage slaw tossed with Thousand Island dressing. You can use lean ground beef if you don't have ground bison.

Hot Dog-Hamburger Secret Sauce

This sauce, delicious for both hamburgers and hot dogs, comes from Joan Wagner of Overland Park, Kansas. The recipe combines green tomatoes, apples, onion, sugar and vinegar. "My two sons, Chris and Ken, gave this recipe the name 'secret sauce' because no one guessed what was in it," Joan says. It's a nice balance of sweet and tangy.

You could also try burgers with the Cranberry-Orange Relish pictured here, a versatile spiced topper that goes well with grilled meats such as bratwurst and pork chops.